Unconventional Leaders

Alejo Porras is a graphic artist and storyteller specializing in sketchnotes. I met him at a conference where I was speaking a few months ago. Afterward, he walked up to me and handed me this—a summary of everything I had said, designed in this insanely cool graphic. WOW. Apparently, this is a thing—artists who create pieces of art summarizing lectures, talks, etc., to help people remember what wa...

Elisabeth Wykert   is a stand-up comedian and actress, famously known for her leotard dance videos. Yes, you heard that right. I’ve been following her since the pandemic when she decided one day, you know what, it's time to put on a leotard, dance in public, and put it on the internet. Definitely the type of person I want to know. What happened afterward is pretty mind-blowing. Growing an eng...

Susan George is the founder and CEO of Mediary, where she launches and scales top brands on TikTok through strategic influencer campaigns. As a Pop/Soul recording artist herself, she knows firsthand that pursuing creativity seriously as a career makes you a business. You need to not only be creatively talented but also be intentional about knowing how to monetize. During the pandemic, she started...

Today, I connected with Rivky Gross , a hypnotherapist and somatic practitioner for heart centered leaders. ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/45 TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE: When “healing” is actually a defense mechanism “Feeling” again (when it feels uncomfortable) What “urgency” is a sign of... Connect with Rivky Gross: https://www.rivky-gross.com/   Follow Heathe...

Tyler Tometich landed his dream career, as a visual effects artist his career spanned Hollywood hits like Thor, Ant-Man, and Captain Marvel. Transitioning from film production to content creation during the COVID-19 pandemic, Tyler quickly amassed a following of nearly 500,000 across social media platforms by producing viral videos that resonate with visual effects enthusiasts. Tyler then shifted...

Today, I connected with Rain Bennett , a two-time Emmy-nominated filmmaker, writer, and competitive storyteller. In this conversation, we dig into how to increase retention and engagement in your stories through sequencing and developing a strong payoff. ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/43   TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE: How to properly sequence your stories Develop...

Today I connected with Adam Ivy , who helps creative entrepreneurs develop raving fans through what he calls 'Attention Marketing.' In this conversation, we dig into how to apply attention marketing to our content, how to make CTAs less icky, and how to create entertaining content while building a deep connection with our audience. ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/42...

Today, I connected with Reward Sibanda , a speaker, pastor, and content creator. In today’s conversation, we dig deep into our 'creative calling' and how we, as communicators, have a responsibility to not just be 'effective' but to raise others up to a higher standard. We also talk about how there is an existential crisis amongst the creative community, where we have to constantly 'make content,'...

If you want to communicate more powerfully, become more magnetic with your message, and speak from a place of vibrational truth, turn this up.  Today, I connected with Garrain Jones , who went from ex-convict to transformational coach, author, and founder of Artist Power—a global movement transforming the entertainment and personal development space. In this conversation, we explore finding '...

Today I connected with Sun Yi , an entrepreneur, storyteller, and the founder of Night Owls. In this conversation, he walks us through how to enhance your personal brand through storytelling. We discuss the ideation process, how to craft your story, and the importance of drawing a line in the sand to make a bigger impact with your message. ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com...

I found Leif Abel , also known as ‘RevisionFurniture,' on Instagram, where he has a unique storytelling style to market his business. As the founder of ReVision Restoration, Leif has restored and sold over $500,000 worth of high-end furniture, and he uses storytelling on Instagram specifically to market his business. I had him on the show to talk about how he crafts his videos, how he finds 'the s...

Bea Chu is a YouTuber, tech enthusiast, sound designer, and filmmaker. She has set her career towards guiding the generation of DIY filmmakers and currently resides in Manila, Philippines. Additionally, she is a lactose-intolerant iced latte addict. I originally came across her on Instagram and loved not only her fun personality and great content tips but also noticed that she stood out from many...

I connected with Rachel Gibler , entrepreneur, manifestation coach, spiritual teacher, and host of the Top 15 USA Podcast It's F*cking Spiritual. In this conversation, we discuss somatic healing for creatives, how to balance both feminine and masculine energy, and how to create authentically while still healing. ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/36   TOPICS FROM...

Today, I connected with Kent King , known as the 'Content Chemist.' In this conversation, we explore how to approach content creation from an entrepreneurial mindset, enhance your content's searchability, and efficiently use data to boost your online presence. ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/35   TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE: How to make your ORGANIC content reach...

You probably grew up learning that “the ego” is bad. Today's guest, however, challenges that notion and encourages us to heal our relationship with the ego because, whether it's popular or not to admit it, that's how we accomplish great things. Today, I connected with Jamie Gruber , an entrepreneur, multifamily investor, mastermind leader, and the host of the Tribe of Millionaires Podcast. In this...

Today, I connected with Maha Abouelenein , the CEO and Founder of Digital and Savvy , who has more than 30 years of experience as a global communications strategist and is the author of 7 Rules of Self-Reliance .  In this conversation, she shares with us the role of self-reliance in building your personal brand, communicating more effectively, and why mastering this skill can position you to...

Today, I connected with Steven Bernstein —screenwriter, director, and cinematographer—about his creative process and the art of becoming a master storyteller. Steven guides us through his approach to ideation, uncovering the core truths of a story, and enhancing its visual appeal to captivate audiences more effectively. ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/32   TOPI...

Today, I connected with Antonio ‘Tony Talks' Baldwin , a full-time content creator and social media personality. In this episode, we take a deep dive into topics such as balancing creativity as a creative, brand growth, ambition & humility and navigating relationships amid a growing career. ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/31   TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE: Gett...

This is a throwback episode with Antonio 'Tony Talks' Baldwin on an episode titled 'Honor Your SPARK & Find VALUE in Your Gift' in 2021. Watch our conversation from 2024 here: https://youtu.be/1dg6vcRrutw   Connect with Antonio “Tony Talks” Baldwin: https://www.youtube.com/@iamtonytalks   2024 Episode: https://youtu.be/1dg6vcRrutw   Follow Heather on IG: https://www.instagram.co...

Today, I connected with Kary Oberbrunner , former pastor and now a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author and the founder of Igniting Souls Publishing Company. In this episode, we do a deep dive into healing from spiritual and emotional scars, and finding your unconventional calling. ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/29   TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE: F...

Today, I connected with the founder of 365 Driven, Tony Whatley . As a successful entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience, Tony is breaking the mold in content creation within his industry. Whether it's adding sketch comedy or documenting his journey to skateboarding after age 50, he is paving the way for what it looks like to make an impact and leave a legacy while still integrating it all...

Today, I connected with Carlos Cuervo , a cinematographer, documentary filmmaker, and photojournalist. In this conversation, we dig into how to navigate burnout as creatives, how boundaries can help our creativity grow further, and how, despite not feeling like a leader, the fact that you’re effectively communicating your message may already make you one. ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.h...

Today, I connected with Joel Byars , stand-up comedian and the founder and host of Hot Breath Comedy Network . In this conversation, we discussed navigating ambition as a creative and developing a clear vision for your career. ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/26   TOPICS FROM THIS EPISODE: How do you stay grounded while trying to build a career in comedy? How do...

In this episode, I talk with Scott Dikkers , a comedy writer and the founder of The Onion , where he served as their owner and editor-in-chief for 30 years. Today, Scott shares his 4-step process for coming up with the BEST ideas, why feedback groups are the missing ingredient for most creatives, and why "being boring is good". ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heatherparady.com/blog/25 &nb...

Today, I connected with two-time Emmy-winning Director Eric Anderson to discuss how to develop our ideas and foster creativity, the process of bringing our ideas to life, the differences between big-scale productions and being a content creator, and why sometimes you should just throw caution to the wind (because playing it safe can get kinda boring). ACCESS FULL SHOW NOTES HERE: https://www.heath...